From the NFAS web board:
Posted - 04/08/2014 : 19:26:30
It is with great sadness we hear of the death of Roy Bickerstaffe after a short period of rapidly declining health.
We at Black Arrow were proud to have him as an honorary member
Roy started the 'Derby Carriage and Wagon Welfare Archery Section' in March 1965 (was this the longest archery club name ever?)
Roy shot both target and field in those days and was very proficient in both, swapping with apparent ease between the classic 'Freestyle' and 'Heavy Tackle' as Hunting Tackle was originally known
Roy involved himself in all aspects of the sport: administration, coaching and, of course, shooting.
In 1970 the BFAA merged with the EFAA and soon Field Archery as it had been was changing and not for the best. Roy with a few others decided that enough was enough and with the hindsight afforded by their experience of the BFAA and the benefits of a clean sheet of paper, founded the NFAS in 1973. This gave field archers the wonderful opportunity to again engage with the sport as they wanted. True, the NFAS migrated down a path they may have strayed somewhat from Roy's vision but there is not a single true field archer that does not owe Roy and his band of merry men and women a debt of gratitude for what we all enjoy today.
Roy could talk for hours on a wide range of subjects and frequently did as anyone who knew him will tell you. But one thing is for sure....that all who benefited from time with Roy was the richer for it.
There is more about the early days of the NFAS in the May/June and Sept/Oct 2010 NFAS newsletters available on the website.
Secretary Black Arrow F.A.C.
